Automatic weather strip



Nov. 15, 1927.

R. LERCH AUTOMATIC WEATHER STRIP Filed Sept. '2. 1926 flaw 97% fit/00w Linc,

Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

NITED STATES RUDOLPH LERCH, OF HEX/V YORK, N. Y. i

AUTOMATIC XVEATHER STRIP.

. Application filed September 7, 1928.

This invention relates to weather strips and particularly directed to a device of this character for use in connection with swing ng doors and windows. The object being to provide such a device possessing novel and etlicient automatic means for forming an air tightseal at the edge of a swinging door or window, the sealing action of the parts occurring when the door or window is near and ifi its closed position, said seal being broken as the door starts its swing toward the open position.

Features of the invention include a vertically movable sealing bar preferably constituted by a rubber strip supported in a channel bar carrying forked clips adjustably secured to the top of the channel bar at near the opposite ends thereof, said bar being guided and protected by a housing secured near the bottom of the door.

The sealing bar is operated by bell-crank devices controlled by the movements of the door, that is, when the door is closed the bell-cranks act to force the sealing bar down onto the floor and as the door begins its movement toward the open position, suitable springs are provided for raising said sealing bar and for returning the bell crank devices to the normal position.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which z- Fig. 1 is a face view of my improved weather strip in operative position on a door.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 41 is an enlarged section on the line 4t of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sealing bar.

Referring to the drawings, to the lower portion of a door 10, at the side edges thereof 1 secure companion casings 11, by suitable fastening devices, such as screws 12, which are passed through openings in the front wall and through inwardly bent lugs 13, which rest fiat on the face of the door to prevent the thin metal walls of the casings cutting into and damaging it, when the screws are firmly set.

Serial 110. 133,956.

Mounted on pins 1 1, riveted to the front wall of each casing 11, arebell-crank levers 15, one M11116 thereof being curved to provide pockets for preferably steel balls 17. Confined in holes 18, in the outer side walls of the said casings, the other arms 19, ofthe bell-crank levers extend inwardly parallel with the face of the door and are pivoted to vertically arranged rods 20, movable in guide lugs 21. Springs 22, are carried on these rods and are confined between the said lugs and washers 23, backed by cross pins 24, passing through the rods near the connections with the bell-cranks.

- Near the lower ends, the rods are provided with side slots 25, adapted to receive the forked ends 26 of connecting plates 27, adjustably secured to the channeled metallic portion 28, of a sealing bar 29, by screws 30, passing through slots 31 in the inner ends of the said connecting plates 27, which lie fiat on said portion 28. The connecting plates 27, are bent near their longitudinal centers so that the forked ends 26 are main tained in oifstanding relation wit-h the channeled portion 28 of the sealing bar. This channeled portion has the terminals of its sides bent inwardly, as at 32, to grip and retain a strip 33 of soft rubber.

The sealing bar 29 thus constructed is guided and protected by a housing 34, secured along the bottom of the door and extending a short distance within the lower part of the casing 11. As long as the door 10 is closed the balls 17, will rest against the door frame and the connecting elements 15, 20, and 27 will force the rubber 33 into intimate contact with the floor, but when the door is opened the balls 17 riding out of contact with the door frame will be forced into their respective openings 18, by the expansion of the springs 22, thus raising the sealing bar 29, from contact with the floor and into the position shown in Fig. at of the drawing.

It is thought that the operation and utility of the device will be apparent without further description, and while in the drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof are susceptible to such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What 1 claim is 1. A weather strip device for doors comprising a sealing bar provided with forked plates at the end thereof, vertically arranged bolts having slots to receive said plates to carry said bar, springs on said bolts maintaining the bar in raised position when the door is open, and means coacting with the frame of the door for forcing said strip of elastic material into sealing relation with the floor when the door is closed, said last mentioned means including a bell crank, one arm of said bell crank coactinq with said sealing bar. and the other arm having a 1'0- tatable hall to cooperate with the frame of the door to actuate said hell crank to depress the scaling har when the door is closed.

Signed at New Yorle in the county of New l ork. and State of New York, this 28th I day of August. A. D. 1926.

RUDOLPH LERCH. 

